Nursing Education: Thinking and Learning In a New Way

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Nursing EducationThinking and Learning In a
New Way

• Grace Saylor MSN, RN
• Julie Hamilton BSN, RN
• Bryan Thomas Technology Specialist

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What is the problem?

• Nursing shortage
• Wait list to enter the nursing program is over
  two years
• No program for students who cannot attend the day
  program
• No flexibility in the delivery system for the
  current program

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Solution

• Different times?
• Different days?
• How about a different delivery systemAha!!

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How Did We Get There?

• There were no programs using this format in the
  state of South Carolina.
• York Technical College made a request for a
  competitive Allied Health Initiative to implement
  this initiative.
• The proposal requested funding for one full year
  to allow students to complete the Practical
  Nursing program

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Getting Started

• Competitive Grant was awarded
• Merit Entry for 24 students
• Distributive learning classes Monday/Tuesday
  evening
• Campus labs and clinical experience every other
  weekend during the day
• Student orientation to the technology

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Student Demographics
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6 single parents
8 undergrad degrees
2 EMTs
24 Students
18 work full time
Age 24 - 48
Travel 8 35 miles
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Addressing the Barriers
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Maximize Student Success
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What we have in place

• Digital Technology Leader
• 1 digital-savvy community college in the county
• Center for Digital Education
• American Association of Community Colleges
• Distance Learning
• Use of Learning Management System (LMS)--Web CT
• Innovative Distributed Learning Methods
• Lecture on CDs (Faculty Generated)
• Podcasting (Audio and Video)
• Development of Educational Technology Specialists
• Team devoted to the creative ideas of instructors

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Why conferencing software?

• Add live/real time to Distance Learning
• Extend the boundaries of traditional classrooms
• Engage students in innovative ways
• Promote active learning and critical thinking

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The Classroom
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Student Engagement

• This class was recorded on August 25, 2008. It
  shows the Polling Feature, Whiteboard
  Interaction, and Critical Thinking.

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Elluminate Software

• Technical Foundation
• Internet Connection Speed
• All-bandwidth connectivity
• No one left behind
• Compatibility
• Cross platform support
• Microsoft windows, Mac OS, Linux, Solaris
• Password Protection

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• Support
• Audio Setup Wizard
• Diagnose problems from home
• Accessibility
• LMS integration
• Provide access for all students, regardless of
  location

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The Results

• Twenty-four students began this program
• Eighteen graduated after one year
• Retention Night 75 vs Day 45
• 100 passed the NCLEX-PN licensure exam
• Program extended for one more year
• Fifteen chose to continue in the Associate Degree
  Program
• At this point all 15 are slated to graduate in
  October

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Student CommentsAdvantages

• Content is easy to go back and review.
• I save gas. This is huge.
• Being able to be at home.
• Once my daughter was sick. I didnt have to miss
  class to be with her.
• I was more at ease with this format.
• I can access my class if I am away on business.
• Fellow students seem to feel more comfortable to
  share without worrying about judgment from
  others.

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Student CommentsDisadvantages

• If there is an electrical storm or your computer
  dies, you are sunk.
• Limited social contact.
• Not warm and personal.
• Sometimes there are delays when my computer
  would act up.
• You have to be quick to buzz in with your
  answer.

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What Did We Learn

• Students readily adapted to this format
• Having the same day for the classes was helpful
  in creating a schedule for their personal life
• This technology was easy to learn
• Anything done in a traditional class room could
  be duplicated using this delivery system
• We would change some of the Merit requirements
• We could have accommodated all 24 students in one
  session

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Where Are We Going

• South Carolina State Board of Nursing approved
  this as a PN program for 2009
• We have been approved to admit 32 students for
  January 2009
• Other Health programs are considering this format

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Questions???